Becker Takes Title, Waage Wins 100^th

By: Ryan Bergeron

                Making the long trek to Wadena on November 30, the 2013-14 Gator wrestlers looked to start their season off on the right track at WDC Dennis Kaatz Invitational. Many Gators, both in the Varsity and JV tournaments, wrestled hard and received valuable mat time to start the year. Junior Wyatt Becker led the way, taking home the lone tourney title, and junior Brandon Waage picked up career victory 100 during a rollercoaster day of wrestling, one eventually seeing the Gators finish fifth overall.

                Coach Bergeron commented on his team’s opening action of the year, “The Gators entered a tough tournament with a young line up and will continue to show improvement with hard work in the practice room and some tough upcoming competition before the holidays.” 

                The Gators advanced three wrestlers to the finals, including Nash Sovde (113), Becker (120), and Nick Kaml (126). The second finalist and only Gator champion, Becker, advanced to the finals after a 7-3 victory, and took home the title to finish a solid day, winning by a 4-0 score over Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale’s, Justin Gordon. Nash picked up a late third period pin to advance to the championship against Pequot Lakes-Pine River Backus’ Anthony Phillipson (ranked #4 in Class AA at 106). Sovde gave a valiant and respectable performance, but lost by a 6-0 score to finish second.  The last Gator finalist, Kaml, wrestled tough throughout the day, picking up a third period pin and 5-0 victory to advance to the finals versus Thief River Falls’ Stephen Holecek (ranked #5 in Class AA at 126). In a match pitting two evenly matched wrestlers, Nick fell behind early and Holecek hung on for the slim 3-0 victory; Kaml finished second.

                The Gator also had a couple wrestles come back from tough losses to finish third, including Trevor Undeberg (138) and Waage (152). After losing an opening round match to the eventual champion, Undeberg continued to wrestle hard and rattled off three straight victories to take home his third place finish. Following a high-scoring and tough loss in the semifinals, Waage looked to stay focused to still achieve another goal, a career victory 100. He did just that, picking up two more victories to accomplish it. Congrats to Brandon on a great accomplishment and here’s to many more victories to come. 

                The Gators had several other wrestlers pick up victories during the day. Taking home fourth place finishes included Daron Sikorski (182), Beau Blumer (220), and Doug Peterson (285). Owen Novacek (106) and Gunner Gust (170) took home fifth place finishes, and, rounding out the placing, Ely Novacek (195) finished sixth. Seth Dostal (132) and Cody Olson (160) also wrestled hard for the Gators but didn’t place.

                The Gator JV also competed and, overall finished 19-11 on the weekend and all wrestlers picked up at least one victory. Bryce Bergeron and Ethan Novacek went undefeated, 3-0, for the JV. Also competing hard for the JV included Brandon Pries (2-1), Trinity Clark (2-1), Adam Lorenson (2-1), Devin Pries (2-1), Dayton Bishop (2-1), Avery Augustson (1-2), Isaac Dostal (1-2), and Elias Jacobson (1-2).

                The Gators, both Varsity and JV, had rollercoaster weekends, evidenced by their 40-32 overall record, but will look to get back to the practice room and continue to work hard, improve, and increase their conditioning as they kick off hopefully a memorable season. The next action for the Gators takes place on Thursday, December 5 against the rival, Roseau Rams. Come on out “Gator Nation” to Roseau to support the Gators as they look to start a new chapter on the right page. GO Gators!!